1999 Total Solar Eclipse

Photo Gallery A (Overview)

Photographs by Fred Espenak

The total solar eclipse of 1999 crossed Europe, Asia Minor and South Asia. Among the many countries in the path, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey attracted most eclipse chasers because of their favorable weather prospects. NASA's 1999 total eclipse website has detailed predictions and maps of this remarkable event.

The Ken Willcox Memorial Eclipse Expedition brought 98 people to Turkey to witness the last total solar eclipse of the Millennium on 1999 August 11. I served as expedition leader while the role of tour director fell into the capable and experienced hands of Gary Spears (Spears Travel).We enjoyed spectacular cloud-free views of totality from our own private beach along the eastern shore of Lake Hazar in eastern Turkey. For more about our expedition to Turkey, see 1999 Eclipse report.

My primary telescopes for this eclipse were a Vixen 90mm f/9 fluorite refractor (fl=810mm) and a Vixen 80mm f/8 fluorite refractor (fl=640mm). Nikon N70 SLR's were attached to each of these instruments. The telescopes were bolted in tandem on a Celestron Super Polaris equatorial mount.I also had three Nikon SLR's with programmable backs and two video cameras.

A long exposure (2 seconds) reveals a wealth of details in the outer corona. Polar streamers and arches are seen extending to the edge of the frame. Note that the inner and middle parts of the corona are completely overexposed.

A computer enhanced image of the solar corona was created by combining twenty-two separate negatives into a single photograph (see: 1999 Composite Photo). The process reveals a wealth of subtle details, structures and streamers in the corona. For more solar corona photos, visit Photo Gallery C - Corona .

The eerie twilight sky of totality is seen above of Lake Hazar, Turkey. Espenak and his telescopes are silhouetted against the lake while a time lapse sequence reveals various phases of the eclipse from start to finish.

At 3rd contact, the diamond ring effect heralds the end of totality. Structure in the corona has been digitally enhanced and the sky background has been adjusted to match the appearance as seen by the naked eye.For more diamond ring photos, visit Photo Gallery B - Diamond Ring.

A dramatic view of totality is seen in a wide-angle photograph shot from Elazig, Turkey. A programmable camera automatically captured the scene from Espenak's hotel in Elazig while he photographed the eclipse 30-km away at Lake Hazar.

A series of 9 still images were combined into a time sequence of the eclipse from start to finish. The corona has been computer enhanced to show subtle details and prominences.For more eclipse sequence photos, visit Photo Gallery D - Sequences.